Chapter 24

CHAPTER XXIV.
GERAINT, THE SON OF ERBIN, CONTINUED. Now this is how Arthur hunted the stag. The men and the dogs were
divided into hunting-parties, and the dogs were let loose upon the
stag. And the last dog that was let loose was the favorite dog of
Arthur, Cavall was his name. And he left an the other dogs behind him,
and turned the stag. And at the second turn the stag came toward the
hunting-party of Arthur. And Arthur set upon him, and before he
could be slain by any other Arthur cut off his head. Then they sounded
the death-horn for slaying, and they all gathered round.
Then came Kadyriath to Arthur, and spoke to him. "Lord," said he,
"behold, yonder is Guenever, and none with her save only one
maiden." "Command Gildas, the son of Caw, and all the scholars of
the court," said Arthur, "to attend Guenever to the palace." And
they did so.
Then they all set forth, holding converse together concerning the
head of the stag, to whom it should be given. One wished that it
should be given to the lady best beloved by him and another to the
lady whom he loved best. And so they came to the palace. And when
Arthur and Guenever heard them disputing about the head of the stag,
Guenever said to Arthur, "My lord, this is my counsel concerning the
stag's head; let it not be given away until Geraint, the son of Erbin,
shall return from the errand he is upon." And Guenever told Arthur
what that errand was. "Right gladly shall it be so," said Arthur.
And Guenever caused a watch to be set upon the ramparts for
Geraint's coming. And after midday they beheld an unshapely little man
upon a horse, and after him a dame or a damsel, also on horseback, and
after her a knight of large stature, bowed down, and hanging his
head low and sorrowfully, and clad in broken and worthless armor.
And before they came near to the gate one of the watch went to
Guenever, and told her what kind of people they saw, and what aspect
they bore. "I know not who they are," said he. "But I know," said
Guenever; "this is the knight whom Geraint pursued, and methinks he
comes not here by his own free will. But Geraint has overtaken him,
and avenged the insult to the maiden to the uttermost." And thereupon,
behold, a porter came to the spot where Guenever was. "Lady," said he,
"at the gate there is a knight, and I saw never a man of so pitiful an
aspect to look upon as he. Miserable and broken is the armor that he
wears, and the hue of blood is more conspicuous upon it than its own
color." "Knowest thou his name?" said she. "I do," said he; "he
tells me that he is Edeyrn, the son of Nudd." Then she replied, "I
know him not."
So Guenever went to the gate to meet him, and he entered. And
Guenever was sorry when she saw the condition he was in,